I was saddened to discover the death of collage artist Keith Pace today when I was looking him up online. Keith was a great supporter of the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction. We have a number of Keith’s collages in the collection from his participation in our previous projects.
When the archives were in Pagosa Springs, Colorado Keith stopped in for a visit on his cross country trip and we spent a pleasant afternoon together. He will be missed.
Here is the obituary…
Keith Pace was born in 1942 to Frank and Mabel Pace, in Bellingham, WA. The youngest of four, he graduated from Bellingham High in 1960 and paid his way through Western Washington University by playing drums in various dance bands. Keith’s first teaching position was in Arlington, WA and he taught a variety of classes plus coached tennis until his retirement, twenty-five years later. He then went to work at Compass Health as a driver; escorting children, supplies and case files for over a decade. In September 2001 he and his wife, Sue, moved to a condo in Everett, WA and enjoyed the variety of neighbors in that area. Keith married Susan (Wright) Pace in 1972 and parented her two children as well as their own two daughters. Cameron (Becky) Wright, Danae Wright, Cinnamon Pace (Jamie Lamit) and Sara Pace were always loving and amazingly helpful during Keith’s last months. Keith was predeceased by his father; his two older brothers and leaves one sister. He has eight beloved grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Keith obtained his Master’s Degree in Administration but his true love was art and he helped run at least two galleries in Snohomish County (Lowell Art Gallery and 3231 Art Gallery). His art work can be found in several states and museums and in some private collections. The latter part of his life he focused on art and belonged to both the regional and national collage societies. He also focused on women’s health rights – via Planned Parenthood – and Nature Conservancy along with giving support to other nonprofit agencies. In June, 2018, Keith suddenly collapsed and was subsequently diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma of the temporal lobe (brain cancer). In spite of wonderful treatment at Everett’s Providence Hospital, the UW Alvord Brain Tumor Center and the Proton Radiation Center, Keith passed away on October 21, 2018. A memorial will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Marysville. In lieu of flowers, Keith requested to make donations to women’s health care or to plant a tree.
Published in The Herald (Everett, Washington, USA) from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, 2018
Below, a few of Keith Pace works in the collection…